Violent Beginnings (The Moretti Crime Family 2)

Going through the pantry, I find some oatmeal. I cook it and place it at the breakfast nook with a glass of orange juice. I’m not anywhere close to being domesticated, but I can cook a fucking meal.

I walk back upstairs and into the bedroom and stand at the foot of the bed, staring at her, watching as she sleeps peacefully, knowing that I’m going to disturb that.

I’m going to take everything in her life from her. Whatever she had in the past is gone. Now, I’m her past, present, and future.

She is my property, and though she may not be Victoria, she brings all those feelings I thought were gone, that I never thought I would experience again back to life, and part of me is angry at her for that.

I know it’s completely irrational. Borderline insane, but I want to punish her for it all the same. Inflict pain because that’s what she’s doing to me, even if it’s unintentional. It’s not her fault she looks like her, but I don’t care. Someone needs to pay.

Having waited long enough, I pad over to the side of the bed and give her a shake. Her skin is cool to the touch, almost as if she’s cold. When she doesn’t wake right away, I shake her again, this time a little harder.

With a startled gasp, her lips part, and her eyes flutter open. Confusion hits her first, followed by fear. It’s prominent in her features, and her blue eyes bleed into mine as the memories of yesterday return. There’s a wealth of secrets in those deep blues, and I’m going to sink into them and expose them all.

It takes a moment for recognition to appear, and then she seems to release a breath, sucking in another, her chest rising and plunging as if she is trying to calm herself.

“I’m sorry, I forgot where I was,” she croaks, her voice full of sleep. I try and make myself not care that she is frightened but I can’t, so the second best thing is to shut my emotions down altogether.

“I’m going to untie you, lead you to the bathroom, and then we’re going to go into the kitchen so you can eat your breakfast. Remember my warning from last night?” I narrow my gaze, noticing the light dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose.

I wasn’t lying last night when I told her she was beautiful. Even bruised and scared, she looks like an angel. A heart-shaped face, full lips, and blue eyes that could make any man weak in the knees. She’s young too; there is still an innocence about her, which only adds to the appeal.

I shouldn’t allow myself to wonder how she ended up at the auction in the first place, but I do. They usually kidnap girls for those things from vacation spots or clubs. Wherever they can find young girls that won’t be missed right away.

Innocent and naive. They can get them to do anything they want. College is not their norm. My guess is she was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Yes, I remember,” she finally answers quietly.

I’m apprehensive in believing her but want to test her and see what she does. Untying her from the bed, I do my best not to brush against her skin. The warmth of her body calls to me already, and god knows I’m fucking attracted to her. I haven’t had sex in forever, so it wouldn’t take much for me to snap at this point.

I don’t fully believe her submissive nature. Even now, the way she is acting is odd, I just woke her up, and instead of screaming and begging for me to let her go, she says she forgot where she was? It’s strange and not typical of a captor, captive situation. Something is off about her.

With her arms released, she stretches them above her head, most likely trying to get the blood pumping back into them.

“Bathroom,” I growl, pointing toward it.

She nods and shoves to her feet faster than necessary.

I can see her falling before she does, and I catch her around the waist, seconds before she is about to hit the floor and tuck her into my chest. The drugs I gave her last night might have left her feeling a little woozy this morning, but that doesn’t stop me from lashing out at her.

“Are you trying to kill yourself?” The words come out as a deep rumble from my chest as I peer down at her. I’m a good foot taller than she is, forcing her to crane her neck back to look up at me. I won’t deny her tiny little body pressed against my bare chest is probably the best thing I’ve felt in forever. It’s almost like she was made to fit there perfectly.